Amedeo Modigliani was one of the most important artists of the 20th century. His iconic works are deeply engrained in the collective pictorial memory. The Art and Exhibition Hall is delighted to be able to celebrate the work of this outstanding artist, who died tragically young at the age of only 35, with a comprehensive exhibition.

Born in Livorno in 1884, Modigliani was painter, draughtsman and sculptor. With the exception of a handful of landscapes, his creative energy was entirely devoted to portraits and nudes. Modigliani’s paintings are deeply rooted in the formal language of the Italian Renaissance and Mannerism. He combined aspects of Expressionism, Cubism and Symbolism and adopted elements of African sculpture, whose perceived primitivism and iconic presence fascinated him and many avant-garde artists of his time. Modigliani’s work cannot be easily classified as belonging to any of the contemporary styles such as Cubism or Fauvism. It bears eloquent testimony to the restlessness and exuberance of an artist who was only too aware of his own vulnerability and mortality and who needed the euphoria of intoxication in order to live and work.

Modigliani’s highly idiosyncratic, at times melancholy portraits captivate viewers to this day. The exhibition traces the biography of the artist and reflects the decisive turning points of his life. A representative selection of some 45 paintings, 65 drawings and a few sculptures allows viewers to form a near complete impression of the artist’s short but exceptionally intense career between 1909 and 1919.

Modigliani’s life was marked by illness, excess, melancholy and doubt. He died in Paris at the age of 35 of tuberculosis. What little we know about his life is based on a relatively small number of reliable documents. Compared to the artist’s popularity and acclaim today, his work met with scant success during his lifetime. Regrettably it was left to posterity to recognise Modigliani’s significance.

Encounters with Modern Art. The Kunstmuseum Winterthur The Great Collections until 23 August 2009 in Bonn

Founded more than a century ago, the collection of the Kunstmuseum Winterthur – singled out as his favourite museum by internationally renowned artist Gerhard Richter – grew out of the commitment and enthusiasm of enlightened art lovers and continues to thrive on the support of private individuals. In terms of the quality of its collection, the museum can hold its own even among the great international collections such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim in New York.

The selection of 246 paintings, sculptures and drawings by 96 renowned artists is more than just a feast for the eyes. Almost effortlessly the exhibition sheds light on the development from Impressionism via Cubism, Abstraction, Constructivism, Surrealism and post-war art to the latest trends in international contemporary art. It draws attention to the many ways in which works of European art – and from the second half of the 20th century American works as well – are connected and how they complement and influence each other. Even greater than the sum of its outstanding parts, the collection resonates across time with the creative energy of the greatest modern masters.

Exhibitions, symposia and teaching positions at art schools world wide

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